Backgammon – 3 General Plans
In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 chief techniques employed. You need to be able to switch tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious dire straits considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!